These bikes can be customised with 3D-printed parts

Don't forget to print a helmet

As cities become more densely populated and concern for the environment continues to grow, it’s inevitable that electric vehicles are going to become increasingly common modes of transport. Though we most often see and hear about these vehicles in terms of cars, there are also some interesting and exciting bike designs out there for those that prefer two wheels.

One company called ETT Industries has some particularly unconventional and interesting ideas when it comes to electric bike designs. Their Raker electric scooter and Trayser ebike products have laser cut aluminium monocoque frames which not only makes them light and strong, but makes them look much more stripped-back and modern.

The Raker electric scooter is less for the general user as it’s more of an electric motorbike and with speeds of 28 mph it requires a license to drive as well as a registration plate. It can take the user around 40 miles with a 5 hour charge, and it can be charged at a standard plug socket.

Perhaps more accessible for city commuters is the Trayser ebike. You still have to pedal this bike, but the pedal cycle is electrically assisted. With a 3 hour charge the bike will be able to electrically assist your journey for up to 60 miles and take you to speeds of up to 15 mph which should make the morning commute at least a little easier.

Another great thing about the monocoque structure of these bikes is that it leaves lots of room to add features onto the bikes which is a key selling point of ETT’s products. Making use of the rise of 3D printing, ETT offer a range of 3D printed accessories that allow customers to personalise their bikes as they please.

The 3D-printed accessories will be available through Shapeways, the largest market for 3D printing in the world, and will range from things like mudguards, to phone mounts, to cupholders, to extra storage compartments. These will be available to order for home delivery but for any customers with a personal 3D printer at their disposal, the STL files will be available to download directly from ETT’s ‘Future Factory’ and many of them will be free of charge.

The ability to add these 3D-printed extras is not only supposed to make repairs easier, CEO and founder of ETT, Jay Wen, says it’s also about offering riders the ability to express themselves:

“ETT is all about expressing yourself, and we believe we’ve made the best platform to enable that.”

ETT actually plan to take this even further; at the moment the range of 3D-printed accessories is fairly limited, but alongside plans to add to it every month they also intend to create a platform for ETT vehicle owners where they will be able to create their own designs including detailed drawings, measurements, and schematics and share them with other bike owners. We imagine that’s when you’ll begin to see some seriously creative things to add to your bike.

It’s probably just as well many of the accessories will be free to download, because the bikes themselves aren’t cheap with the Raker electric scooter costing £2700 including shipping and the Trayser £1700.